Top dogs: Puppy Awareness Week – in pictures

Here are just some of the images that have made it through to the final of the Kennel Club's dog photographer of the year competition. This year there is a new puppy category, devised to promote
Puppy Awareness Week. PAW aims to discourage the purchase of dogs from unethical puppy farmers, who operate without health tests, injections or proper care, causing problems for both dogs and owners

Without health tests, injections, appropriate care or socialisation, puppy farm dogs are sold on to unsuspecting buyers who will then often experience the effects as the dog grows, in the form of behavioural problems, serious illnesses or even death

Caroline Kisko, the Kennel Club secretary, explains: 'We've never before had such instant access to so much information, yet time and time again people are making the wrong decisions when buying a puppy'

Kisko: 'Too many people don't know that there are vast differences between the 210 breeds of dog in this country, and so end up abandoning their dogs because they discover that they don’t fit in with their lifestyle'

'Puppy farms churn out litter after litter of
undernourished and badly cared for puppies and then sell them on to unsuspecting owners, through pet shops, newspaper ads, online adverts and various other means'

'We're providing information during Puppy Awareness Week to help people understand how to buy a healthy, happy puppy and to raise money for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which supports charities and organisations that are making dogs’ lives better'